The Box

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Box is a 960-square-foot residence inspired by the owner’s desire for a small house overlooking an untouched wetland. Conceived as a series of boxes nestled into the hillside, the house gently engages the site offering varied views of the landscape.

To set the house into the site, the main living space was built into the hillside. Excavated rocks were reused as a base for the steel encased fireplace as well as a stepping stone inside the front door. The front door was built from a walnut tree found dead on the site.

2016 AIA Indiana merit award
2015 AIA Northen Indiana merit award

The Box functions primarily on one main level, with an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space. A small loft space provides a sleeping area and a home office. A two-story shower provides a spatial surprise in an otherwise small space.

Material choices are based on affordability with a primarily natural raw appearance. Blackened steel, stone, concrete, and birch plywood create a material palette complimenting the native trees and grasslands.